Open-label, two-arm, prospective multicenter phase II clinical trial to determine the efficacy and safety of combined pembrolizumab and lenvatinib compared to pembrolizumab alone as maintenance therapy after definitive radiochemotherapy of locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
This is an open-label, two-arm, prospective multicenter phase II clinical trial to determine the efficacy and safety combined pembrolizumab and lenvatinib compared to pembrolizumab alone as maintenance therapy after definitive radiochemotherapy of locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The trial will be conducted in conformance with Good Clinical Practices and subjects will be enrolled into the trial by signing the informed consent form (ICF). Only subjects with PD-L1 positive (CPS≥1) tumors according to centralized reference pathologic assessment can be enrolled. Subjects without disease progression in the study screening CT (compared to radiochemotherapy baseline CT) that fulfil all further eligibility criteria can enter the trial after completion of definitive radiochemotherapy. Sites will be required to submit tissue samples for PD-L1 assessment in central pathology. After confirmed study inclusion, patients will be randomized to receive either combined pembrolizumab and lenvatinib (treatment arm A) or pembrolizumab alone (treatment arm B). Pembrolizumab will be administered intravenously at a dose of 200mg q3w and lenvatinib at a dose of 20mg once daily orally. The first dose of pembrolizumab has to be administered within 14 days after completion of radiochemotherapy. Treatment with lenvatinib will start concomitant to cycle 2 of pembrolizumab. Treatment will be continued until disease progression, unacceptable adverse event(s) or until the subject has received 12 months of treatment (i.e. 17 doses of pembrolizumab). Afterwards patients will enter follow-up until 24 months since study inclusion. It is planned to randomize 48 patients. In addition, two patients are treated in advance as proof on concept with pembrolizumab and lenvatinib. Primary endpoint of the trial is the event-free survival (EFS) rate at 2 years. The aim of the trial is to increase the 2-year EFS rate from 60% to 80%. This improvement is considered to be a clinically relevant advantage.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
50
i.v., 200mg absolute, q3w, starting within 14 days after completion of radiochemotherapy
20mg once daily orally, start concomitant to cycle 2 of pembrolizumab
University Hospital Ulm, Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery
Ulm, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
University Hospital Augsburg, Radiation Oncology
Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany
University Hospital Erlangen, Radiation Oncology
Erlangen, Bavaria, Germany
Event-free survival (EFS) rate
To study efficacy of pembrolizumab/lenvatinib maintenance therapy versus pembrolizumab alone after definitive RCT of locally advanced HNSCC to prolong the event-free survival (EFS) rate at 2 years.
Time frame: 2 years
Event-free survival (EFS) (continuous)
Pembrolizumab/lenvatinib maintenance therapy will improve further efficacy endpoints compared to expectations derived from historical data on pembrolizumab alone.
Time frame: 2 years
Locoregional control
Locoregional progression will be evaluated by RECIST 1.1 criteria
Time frame: Restaging 12-13 weeks after completion of radiotherapy; Follow-up every 24 weeks
Toxicity of Pembrolizumab/lenvatinib
Toxicity will be evaluated according to CTCAE v5.0 criteria
Time frame: until safety follow-up (1 year treatment + 30 days)
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University Hospital Regensburg, Clinic and Polyclinic for Radiotherapy
Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany
University Hospital Frankfurt/M, Center for Radiology
Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, Germany
University Hospital Giessen; Ear, nose and throat clinic
Giessen, Hesse, Germany
University Hospital Düsseldorf, Radiation Oncology
Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Saarland University Medical Center and Saarland University Faculty of Medicine, Clinic for Radiotherapy and Radiooncology
Homburg, Saarland, Germany
Hospital Chemnitz, Radiation Oncology
Chemnitz, Saxony, Germany
Gemeinschaftspraxis Hämatologie-Onkologie
Dresden, Saxony, Germany